Blow distributing athletic protector



J. P. TAYLOR BLOW DISTRIBUTING ATHLETIC PROTECTOR Filed March 15, 1930 2Sheets-Shea l M 7m ll INVENTOR JAMES R T no# ATTORNEY Nov. 3, 1931.

J. P. TAYLOR BLOW DISTRIBUTING ATHLETIC PROTECTOR Filed March 15, 195o 2sheets-sheet z INVENTOR JAMES l? TA LOR ATTO'R N EY Patented Nov. 3,1931 n JAMES 1. TAYLOR, OE BROOKLYN. NEW YORK BLOW DISTRIBUTING ATHLETICP EOTEOTOE.

Application led March 1.5, 1930. Serial No. 436,124'.

This invention relates to athletic protectors of the type necessary forthe protection of males in such sports as boxing, hockey, football, andthe like.

The principal object of the invention is to combine in oneunitary'structure means capable of yielding with resistance to alocalized blow, distributing the localized force of such blowsubstantially uniformly over a large area, of a shape retaining memberphysically capable of contacting with the part to be pro-v tectedandthen yieldingly resisting the aforesaid distributed force over adistributed area or non-sensitive portions of the human anatomy. To thisend, I propose to combine with a protecting cup of rigid material suchas a cast shell of duraluminum, a shell of fiber, a shell of molded hardrubber composition, or a shell of bakelite, or the like, an outeryielding and distributing member preferably employing the principle ofpneumatics and preferably in the form of an outer membrane spaced fromthe unyielding cup by means of a chamber or chambers lfilled withgasunder pressure and so interconnected that a localized blow will haveits force distributed substantially over the entire surface area of thecup, and with an inner yielding member attached to the rim of said cupand adapted to rest upon the body of the wearer.

In the use of my, protector, I have found that it is best to rely uponthe usual yelastic bandage or strap worn byv athletestohold my protectorin position on the wearer,

although I, of course, contemplate the pos.-

sibilityof providing a similar elastic attaching means attached to orformed as a part of my entire structure. l y

vA further'object of my invention, and in 40 fact its prime object, isto safeguard an athlete from distress"frompractically any blow so far ashis sensitive partsY are concerned.

' The above and further vrobjects of the inl vention will be understoodbetter from the .in connection with the accompanying drawings whichforma part hereof. It is to these illustrative embodiments of the invenv 5Aand its spaced outer wall 10 overlying the tion that the followingclaims are directed solely for purposes of -illustration and notlimitation. Y v In Vthe drawings, Fig. lis a yfront elevation partly inperspective and somewhat diagrammatic with parts shown in dotted linesindicating the vWearing poistionl of my. protector with an elasticbandage for holding 1t in place; Fig. 2 is a verticalrcross-sectiontaken at right angles to the position inFig.

1 through an embodiment of my invention, and more specifically takenthrough the line of II-IIof Fig. 8;.Fig.3is a horizontal section throughthe plane of line III-A-III of Fig. 2; Fig. 1 is an enlargedverticalsection 8511 like Fig, 2 of a modification; and Fig.y 5 is asimilar vertical cross-section through a preferred modification. f Y iReferring now more in detail to the drawings, A indicates a usual formofelastic V bandage Or supporting strap comprising .a belt 1 of elasticwebbing; rear leg straps 2 and 3; and a front broad elastic strap 4 eX-tending from the frontv of the belt 1 to the lower ends of the straps 2and 3. This func- 15jtions to press thevprotector B into operativeposition upon the wearer. Y

In the embodiments of Figs. 2 and, a protector cup 5 formed of anyof thematerials heretofore enumerated, preferably cast A aluminum, may haveany desired shape to form a safety cavity 6.- Alpropershape is indicatedby thevcontours shown in Figs. 2 Y and 3.' To give lightness, it ispreferred that perforations 7 be formedin this unyielding 95 CUP- v .Apneumaticblow ydistributorI 8 hasone wallf9 cemented tothe outer face ofthe cup same and provided with any suitable form of 1. inflating nipple11. An inner Vlining 12 is cemented to the inner face of the cup andanfinner outstanding riml 13, preferably of sponge rubber, is vulcanizedto therim ofthe previously described construction. vIn addition to therim 13 it is preferred thatV an additional top pad 14 having wings 15and ,16-

. extending out laterally be vprovided to assist in distributing Vthe.rearward vforce from a 10o Y lapping portions lofwhichrims' areprefferably 1 vulcanizedV together, and if desired, "alsof to the spongef rubber cushioning flange Y 52. In this construction, apart of thepneu- A nished article. -Y In its functioning, ablow localized,` for#brane l0 but instead ofthe open pneumatic` cavity, a filling 101 ofspongerubber made up of cells containing gasN under`pressure'' isdistributed over the outer1face ofthe cup z 5 and is preferably acontinuationof an innerlining of ru`bber'1 0 2. =1The inner cushion# ingrim A13 is providedand also-preferably the distributing pad 14.

InFi'g. '5, annique construction lending itself to'quantity productionis illustrated. In thisl construction the cup 50 is preferably providedwith a broad-faced inner lange'5l to'which a cushioning flange ofsponged rubber'is cemented or'vulcanized. i First an outer plate 53 ofsheet 'rubber is applied to the outer face of the cup and then the innerwall 54 of a blank of sheet'rubberfis 'vulcanized through theperforations- 55 Vof the cup 50 tothe outer sheet 53 so'thatthe rubberparts "56 passingthrough the perforations form a strong-anchoragetoh'oldftlie resilient flexible rubber parts together.`

The outer part of a pneumatic protector isin' the vform' of 'a'sheetrubberblank 57 provided `with 'the inflating' nipple 1l and hasits terminalrim-GO overlying the terminal rim 6I of the inner wa1l5fl,the 'overmatic structure servesV 'as the inner'jlini'ng las well as apart of the inclosure for the air under pressure., vI/V'iththiszconstructio'n, 'itA is contemplated that theshap-ing--of the sheetVrubber walls be such" as to'enable'the cavity gas underconsiderablepressure, even as high as twenty pounds per'sq'uare inch;This vfaized blow. It is, of course, to be understood that theresistance of thefsheet rubber walls against stretch inay be 'varied in'accordance' `vwith good rubber manufacturing principles to'aid inretaining the desired shape for `the f example, at the arrowSOfirstcauses alconazsiderable yielding-ofthewall 57 'at this `locality,but no blow asV from a listv or vkneeor boot VVcan affect theyielding ofthis wall sufi ficiently to make direct contact -lwith theunvyieldiiig'r'wall 50. `Vo'rlnof course, is done in. "-fefecting thislocal yielding of the "outer wall 57 which tends to annul the force ofthe blow, but in addition, an important functioning is the distributionof the force of the blow over the entire outer surface 8l so that inturn a substantially uniform moderate pressure per square inch isdirected 'towards the body through the cushioning flange 52. Besidesthis', the cushion-ing` iange'52 contacts only .with the. non-sensitiveportions of the Y wearers body andfurther work is caused to be"doneiiith'e compressing of this cushioning flange 52before thebodyitself must take upthe force of a` localized blow. In no event canthecup 50 yield to make direct contact with the more sensitive parts ofthe wearer. I thereforeliave distributed a localized blow and caused itto dowork first in the pneumatic forming -unitary p art of thestructureV and then in the body contacting cushion and'last-y lyl inYthe blow Yresisting parts Vof the `body itself. In fact, I have foundmy promotor soperfect that for a year I have successfully maintained"myself againstpeisonal injury in submitting to an open'challengetoreceive any kick, knee or `fistfblowupon this protector whenpersonally'wearing it.

NhatI'claiinand desire to secure by.:

United States Letters Patent is:

l. An athletic protector in the formof a unitary structure* comprising,a protecting cup of vunyielding material 'havinga body facing iiange,`and an outwardly bulging. por-- tion; an" outer-member permanentlysecured to said cup vand providing a cavity,` which cavity has ai'illingof force distributing ma-r terial adapted to distributethe forcecfav localized blow substantially!uniformly over,.- tlieentire outersurfaceof said cup; and an inner yieldingiiieans xed to said cup' and ilocalized between the vbody facing rim of'said cup andthe body ofthe'Iwearer whereby the r' force of al localized' blow is first distributedabou t"tlie outer surface of said unyielding cup and then avyieldingmovement of said: entire cup takes'place and isfcushione'dsubfstant-ially throughoutthe'entire Aextent of 7 O tol be 'lled withcompressedair or other said' cushioning means between the body fac-'ifing `riin offsaid cup and" the body of the Vwearer.` i Vcilitates' indistributing the force of a local-g 2. An athletic "protector cup ofunyielding vmaterialhaving lay body facing flange and aneutwardlybuiging porinthe form of a; unitarystructure` comprising, ya protecting`ized b lowsubstantially uniformlyover the entire' x outer su'rfaceo'fsaid cup.; and an innerr yielding means 'fixed tosaid cup'andlocalizedbetween the body facing rimof said cup and thebody ofthevwea'rer whereby the? force jofa localized blowis` 'rst distributedabout thefouter surface of`said un'yielding cup and then a yieldingmovement of said entire cup takes place and is cushioned substantiallythroughout the entire extent of said cushioning mea-ns between the bodyfacing rim of said cup and the body of the JAMES P. TAYLOR.

